Christmas Kisses: An Echo Ridge Anthology (Echo Ridge Romance Book 1)

by Lucy McConnell

“Sure.” Reese grinned. She would take all of them except the seventeen she’d already sold.

  Hoping to get out of there before her mom started talking about making out, necking, smooching, canoodling, or any other topics that were waaaay to personal, Reese cleaned up quickly. She stopped at Pop’s, opened The Candy Counter, and was able to purchase her dress before Kenworth’s opened. She stored it in the chocolate closet, hoping it would absorb the scent since it was Andy’s favorite.

  When she got back to her post, she found Andy leaning against the display case, studying two ties. Reese’s heart fluttered about. It had been days since their kiss, and even though they’d texted plenty, she missed him.

  When Andy saw her, he held one skinny tie in front of his chest and then the other. “Which one?”

  Reese reached out and ran her fingers over each tie. One was a bright red, and the other a nice, silvery blue. Contemplating her dress, she picked the blue. “This one.”

  “Really? Gentry said the red one was manlier.”

  Reese rolled her eyes. Gentry would say anything to make a commission. “Pah-lease. You don’t need a tie to look manly.”

  Andy hooked his finger in the belt loop over her hip and tugged her near. “Did Reese Gates just give me a compliment?”

  Reese giggled. “Don’t let it go to your head.”

  “I didn’t even bring my fishing pole.”

  Reese swatted his arm. “You don’t need a fishing pole; you’re a thief. Stick to what you’re good at.”

  Andy’s eyes moved to her lips. “I can think of one thing I’d like to steal right now.”

  “Oh?” Reese struggled to think of a witty remark, but nothing came to mind. She was hopeless when it came to Andy.

  Andy pushed her back a step. “I’d better not. I have a meeting in twenty minutes that I can’t be late for.”

  Reese tried to hide her disappointment by rearranging the bags of taffy in the corner display. Apparently Andy didn’t have the same trouble resisting her as she had resisting him. The thought unsettled Reese. She didn’t like the idea of being unbalanced in a relationship. “Yeah. We wouldn’t want that.”

  “Aw, dang it.” Andy put his palm on her cheek and turned her to face him. “I can’t seem to help myself. Blast the meeting.” He kissed her.

  Reese had a hard time holding up her end of the kiss because she couldn’t stop smiling. And what woman wouldn’t smile when she felt irresistible? Andy did that for her. Not just by kissing her, but by saying the words she needed to hear.

  Robyn, a friend and Kenworth’s employee, walked by and whistled, and then Andy was smiling as big as she was. “Okay. I’m really going this time.” He brushed his lips across her cheek but didn’t let go of her.

  “You’d better.” Reese hooked her hands together behind his neck and pulled him in for another tummy-sizzler kiss.

  “I’m headed for the door,” said Andy, never releasing his hold.

  “Don’t forget your tie,” replied Reese, hanging on just as tight and returning his kisses between words.

  The bell sounded, signaling the opening of the store.

  Reese slid her hands down Andy’s neck and chest. She let them rest there for several seconds, enjoying the feel of his chest against her palms, before gently pushing him back, if only so she could catch her breath.

  Andy allowed her to put a few inches between them. “Sorry,” he said, though his grin didn’t look at all apologetic or chagrined for instigating the most scandalous PDA Kenworth’s had seen in quite some time. Pressing his lips to her forehead, he pulled his arms back and started walking away backwards. “I’m going to buy this tie.” He held up the red one.

  Reese shook her head. “Nope.”

  Andy looked down and switched hands. “This tie. And then I have a meeting, and you’re closing tonight and working tomorrow morning, so I will see you at six at your apartment.”

  “I’ll be ready.” Oh boy, would she be ready. Andy wasn’t going to know what hit him.

  Andy bumped into a display of purses and wallets. Reese covered her mouth with her hand to stifle her laughter.

  “Sorry, old boy. I didn’t see you there,” Andy said as he straightened the display and tried to look like he wasn’t turning red. He picked up a lime-green leather wallet. “That’s a lovely color. Your designer was spot on. I used this very shade on the family portrait site I built last week.”

  Reese pressed her fingers tighter around her mouth. The man was ridiculous when he was embarrassed.

  Patting the wallet once more, Andy said, “I’ll just be on my way. I hope you sell soon.” He went to go, and then stopped and came back. Picking up the wallet, he held it aloft. “Hey, heiress, have you got your dad a Christmas present yet?”

  Reese wiped the corners of her eyes. She was going to pass out from trying to hold back the laughter. All she could do was nod.

  Andy put the wallet back. “Sorry, old boy. I tried.” And he walked away as calm as could be.

  Reese took a couple of deep breaths. Shaking her hands, she allowed herself to finally chuckle out loud. Before she really had a chance to gather herself, there was a customer at the counter and she had to get to work. She might have gotten her dad a Christmas present, but she was sure Andy could use a new wallet.

  A few minutes later Gentry stopped by, his eyes roaming over her with the same appreciation as he gave the buttercream candies. Reese worked to keep their interactions as professional as possible, but he always managed to get in some sort of innuendo. Gentry dressed well and had a good physique, but he was all too sure of his conquests. Reese wondered if he knew what a turnoff his attitude was to the single women in the store. They’d all talked about it here and there, mostly commiserating after being the target of Gentry’s attention for too long. He never crossed over to indecent or anything— he was a rogue, and happy to be one.

  “Hello.” Reese purposefully didn’t use his name to avoid any sense of familiarity between them. “What can I get for you?”

  Gentry quirked his lips, and Reese had the impression that there were several things running through his mind, none of them centered around chocolate. She forced herself to make eye contact. Not warm eye contact like she used with her other customers, but eye contact nonetheless.

  “I’d like small box of assorted chocolates.” Gentry put his arm on the counter. “Are you going to the Candy Cane Twist?”

  Reese retrieved the box from the opposite display case. “I am.”

  “Alone or with a date?”

  Reese smiled for real this time. She couldn’t help herself. “A date.” She rang up the candy. “Anything else?”

  Gentry tapped his knuckles on the glass. “I’ve heard some things …”

  “Oh?” Reese didn’t mind exchanging information with Jessica or some of the other workers. Being in the know was a good thing. But she wasn’t sure she wanted information from Gentry.

  She reached up to place the box on the counter, and Gentry put his hands over hers. Reese tried to pull away, but he held firm. “I was talking to Tayton this morning, and he said Cecilia is trying to shut the store down. Has she said anything to your mom?”

  Reese blinked several times. “Shut it down? That doesn’t make sense.”

  “So … you haven’t heard anything?”

  Reese shook her head. “I doubt Cecilia would tell my mom anything.” Or that my mom would tell me.

  Gentry released her, and Reese yanked her hands back as if she’d touched the hot stove. Cecilia’s words from the day the window display was revealed came back to her: I hope you have a backup plan. Reese pressed her palm to her forehead as Gentry walked away, the box of chocolates in his hand and his money on the counter. She’d forgotten to finish the transaction.

  If Cecilia was trying to shut down Kenworth’s, everything Reese was working for would be that much more important. She had to see the online store succeed. Torn between The Candy Counter and Andy, Reese realized she couldn’t give up eithe
r. She loved them both— The Candy Counter because it was her heritage, and Andy because he was her future. Loving him seemed all the more dangerous knowing that he had the power to destroy both.

  ON SATURDAY, REESE WAS ONLY HALF AWARE of what was happening at The Candy Counter or the world in general. She did catch that the high school art show had been postponed since Clark spent any spare minute texting for updates on the situation. In her happy haze, Reese may or may not have given Robyn rum balls instead of vanilla nut clusters, and Clark had to remind her twice to fill the hard candy bins when customers complained. Her body might have been at Kenworth’s, but her mind was already with Andy.

  A small crew worked throughout the morning to decorate the newly refurbished soda fountain for the dance. Kiera said they’d sold more tickets than they’d originally planned, and was giddy with the event’s success. “This could become a Kenworth’s tradition, and I’m already thinking of hiring Carlos to work his magic on the upper floor for next year so we have more space.”

  Reese agreed that it was an excellent idea— though with the soda fountain staring her in the face all day long, her thoughts didn’t go much further on the calendar than that night.

  At three on the dot she threw her apron to Clark, grabbed her coat and purse out from under the cabinet, and left all thoughts of The Candy Counter behind. For tonight, just one night, she was going to be just another customer at Kenworth’s and not The Candy Counter heiress.

  Her first stop was the Chickadee Beauty Salon, where she had her hair washed and a deep conditioner used to help with the winter frizz. Next, her stylist, Sherisse, slathered her in oils, creams, and a touch of root lifter before artfully placing pin curls all over her head. She ended up under a low-heat dryer for thirty minutes. The result was beautiful waves that cascaded down her back and across her shoulders. Sherisse assured her the product would help the curls to stay bouncy throughout the night.

  At her apartment, Reese rinsed off in the tub, careful not to wet her hair and ruin Sherisse’s hard work. She then applied vanilla lotion before slipping on a pair of black nylons. A YouTube video guided her through the process of creating smoky eyes with gray, silver, and black eye shadows. She didn’t usually wear much makeup, but for tonight she was going all out.

  Finally, she opened her closet with a flourish and a ridiculously big grin. Ah, the dress. First came the petticoat Jessica insisted she would need to achieve the fullness the dress required. Then she slipped into the dress, sighing as she zipped it up, and relished the feel of wearing something feminine and beautiful. Dangly black earrings and a matching chunky bracelet came next. Donning her three-inch heels, she did one last check in the mirror.

  Feeling wonderfully girly, Reese let out a quiet squeal. He should be here any minute.

  There was a soft knock at the door, and Reese bounded over to answer.

  Andy took a step back as his eyes traveled up from her shoes to her eyes. His mouth opened slightly in awe, and Reese couldn’t help but drop her gaze, a little shy at letting it all out of the box.

  His normally curly and somewhat unmanageable hair had been styled to resemble a young Elvis Presley. He wore a light navy suit with the blue-and-silver tie Reese had picked and a white shirt. There was a high shine to his black dress shoes, and Reese thought she’d swoon at the sight of him.

  They stood there, four feet apart and staring at each other. Andy blinked twice, slowly, and then seemed to come to. “Merry Christmas,” he said as he held out a small bouquet of red roses with a sprig of mistletoe in the middle.

  “Thank you.” Reese accepted the gift. “Do you want to come in while I put these in some water?”

  “Sure.”

  Andy waited while she rummaged around in the kitchen for a vase. She took the opportunity to look for the banana chocolates she’d made and couldn’t find them. Sending off a quick text to her mom, she asked if they were on the fridge in the chocolate kitchen, as that was the last place she remembered seeing them. Her mom answered back that they were.

  I’ll have to give them to him another time. Thanks.

  Reese picked up her beaded black clutch. “All set.”

  Andy held her black church coat so she could slip her hands into the sleeves. This winter had been like every other in Echo Ridge— cold. The snow pack was building up on the mountain, and Reese was looking forward to a blooming spring.

  Once in the car, Reese allowed the Echo Ridge Christmas atmosphere, strong enough to bring tourists throughout the season, to wash over her. Multicolored lights accessorized Main Street like beaded necklaces on debutants. Piles of snow lined the streets and sidewalks, and holiday images decorated the windows. Andy had the radio set to SANTA 107.5 FM, Christmas music all year long, and the piano version of “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” played gently in the background. By the time they reached Kenworth’s in the heart of Echo Ridge, Reese was full of Christmas spirit.

  Kenworth’s had been transformed. A string of garland directed partygoers to the soda fountain and encouraged them to stay out of the other departments. Carl stood off to one side, wearing his uniform and a look that would discourage even the most desperate shoplifter. There were red ribbons tied into huge bows every five feet or so. Rock-and-roll Christmas tunes came through the speakers, loud enough to encourage dancing but not so loud you had to yell to be heard. There were recessed lights in various colors around the counter, and the mirror behind was framed in blinking Christmas lights. The whole place smelled of pine and cinnamon.

  Carlos’s work on the ancient soda fountain was impressive. The details were perfect, right down to the blue-and-white checkered tile on the countertop, and the craftsmanship was admirable. Reese craned her neck to find Carlos and compliment him on his work, but she couldn’t see him anywhere.

  Reese nodded to several employees. Jessica trotted over, her navy dress setting off her blond hair beautifully. “Hey,” she gave Reese a quick hug. “Did you hear the good news?”

  “No.” Reese glanced at Andy apologetically. This was supposed to be their night; she didn’t want to drag Kenworth’s rumor mill into the evening. Andy touched her elbow and gave her a look that said, Don’t worry about it. I’ve got all night. She bit her lip shyly, warmed by the gentle look in his eyes and the touch of his fingers on her skin.

  Jessica, continued, “Cecilia quit.”

  “What?!” Reese’s exclamation earned her several looks, but she didn’t care. “What do you mean, quit?”

  “She left. Kiera’s acting CEO. Isn’t that great?”

  Reese didn’t answer right away. Cecilia being gone was a good thing. Her horrible mood and crabby management style had scared off more than one good employee. Also, if she wasn’t in charge of signing the new lease, then she couldn’t boot out the Gates. On the other hand, what’s to say a new manager wouldn’t have the same thoughts of bringing in a national chain?

  Reese opted to comment on the good that would come out of this and save her concerns for later. “I’m glad Kenworth’s is out from under her heel.”

  “Me too.” Jessica let out a little squeal. “I can’t wait to run my ideas past the new manager. I’ve been so stifled.”

  Reese smiled. Jessica was a fashion genius with aspirations as high as Kenworth’s vaulted ceilings.

  Jessica glanced behind Reese. “It’s my turn to select a song. Isn’t that jukebox just the most? I’ll see you later.”

  Andy smiled and took Reese’s hand, threading their fingers together.

  “Sorry. I know this is supposed to be a non-working night,” said Reese.

  “Then I probably should have taken you to Chip’s Diner instead,” he joked.

  Reese gently squeezed his hand. “Nope, this is perfect.”

  Not everyone was dressed for the theme, but there were several poodle skirts. Some guys had suit pants, white shirts, and suspenders, while others went for the greaser look, with a black leather jacket and slicked-back hair.

  By the time they reached the
dance floor, Reese was bouncing her shoulder along with the beat and Andy was nodding his chin. Slipping easily into his arms, Reese allowed him to lead her through a series of twists and turns, loving the way her dress flared out and brushed against her legs. Andy’s hand on the small of her back anchored Reese so she didn’t float away, which was a real possibility. She couldn’t remember a time when she’d been so intoxicated by her date and equally at ease to be near him.

  When the song ended, Andy brushed his ever-present scruff against her cheek. “Thirsty?”

  “Hmmm,” she answered. Reese had meant to use actual words, but somehow her ability to speak had been stolen. She grinned to herself. Thief.

  Since the restoration included getting the soda fountain to actually work, Reese and Andy chose two specialty sodas, his a cherry phosphate and hers a lime rickey. As she sipped her drink, Reese looked around the room, intent on imprinting this night in her memory— everything from the tickle in her nose when she sampled Andy’s soda to the sound of dress shoes on the dark wood floor.

  With her eyes sweeping the room, Reese almost missed her mom standing on the edge of the crowd. A chill ran up Reese’s arms. Mom wouldn’t crash her date unless there was a good reason. Reese immediately thought of her grandma. She let out a small cry, set her drink on the counter, and rushed to her mom’s side. Andy was right behind.

  “What happened? Is Grandma okay?” she asked.

  Joy waved her one hand; her other hand held a paper bag. “She’s fine. Why?”

  Reese let out the breath she’d been holding. “I wasn’t expecting you.” Reese pressed her palm to her chest to calm her racing heart. Grandma’s okay, she told herself.

  Mom smiled indulgently. “You look beautiful. Let me see the dress.”

  Reese spun in a slow circle.

  “It’s perfect.”

  Smoothing the fabric, Reese replied, “Thanks. I love it.” She shrugged her shoulders in a happy gesture.

  “Well, I don’t want to intrude. I just stopped by to drop these off.” Joy held out the paper shopping bag from Chickadee’s Grocery.